Shaq's turn

O'Neal takes spotlight as Kobe's scoring string ends

Shaquille O'Neal stole the spotlight from Kobe by dominating in the paint. AP

LOS ANGELES (AP) -- His streaks are over, and Kobe Bryant didn't sound the least bit disappointed.

Fact is, he admitted to feeling some relief.

Shadowed closely by Corey Maggette and often double-teamed, Bryant scored 32 points Tuesday night as the Lakers beat the Los Angeles Clippers 109-98 for their 12th win in 14 games.

The 24-year-old Lakers star failed to extend his streak of scoring at least 40 points to 10 games, which would have tied Wilt Chamberlain for the second-longest streak in NBA history.

Bryant had also scored at least 35 points in 13 consecutive games. Only Chamberlain has longer streaks, having accomplished that feat in 33, 23 and 20 straight games.

A first for Phil LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Phil Jackson missed his first game as an NBA head coach Tuesday night, recuperating from having a kidney stone removed while his Los Angeles Lakers played the Clippers. Assistant Jim Cleamons served as acting coach as the Lakers beat the Clippers 109-98. • Click here for more.

"It started to take the focus away from how well we're playing as a team," Bryant said. "It's important to put the emphasis on how we're playing as a team. That means the streak is a streak. It's not going to win us any championships.

"The most important thing obviously is playing the game the right way."

Chamberlain scored 40 or more in 14 straight games twice in the 1961-62 season, when he averaged an NBA-record 50.4 points. He had his 10-game streak the following season.

Bryant's streak of nine straight was the longest since Michael Jordan scored 40 or more in the same number of games in the 1986-87 season.

"To be mentioned in the same breath with those guys is an honor in itself," Bryant said.

The Lakers played without Phil Jackson, who missed his first game as an NBA head coach recuperating from having a kidney stone removed a day earlier. Assistant Jim Cleamons served as acting head coach.

Head2Head Kobe or Tracy? SI.com's John Hollinger and Jennifer Cooper take sides in this debate about which of the two scoring machines is better. • Click here for more.

Bryant shot 11-of-26 and made 9-of-10 free throws. He also had six rebounds, three assists and five steals in 41 minutes.

Bryant wore a wide grin as he dribbled out the final 20 seconds or so without shooting, as the Lakers had the game in hand and the Clippers didn't try to foul.

"I was just messing with Elton Brand," Bryant said of those final seconds. "I know him pretty well. Inside joke."

When asked how much he considered hoisting a 3-pointer in the final seconds that could have given him 35 points, Bryant replied: "Zero, man."

Shaquille O'Neal had 33 points and eight rebounds, and Rick Fox added 12 points and eight assists for the Lakers (31-25), who have won five straight games.

"I'm proud of him, it's all about winning," O'Neal said of Bryant.

"It was a pleasure to be a part of something that special," Fox said. "You knew eventually it would come to an end. You hoped it wouldn't."

Their latest victory moved the Lakers a season-high six games over .500 and within two games of sixth-place Utah in the Western Conference.

Maggette had 22 points, Brand had 21 points and eight rebounds and Lamar Odom had 15 points and nine rebounds for the Clippers (19-36), who lost for the 11th time in 14 games.

"He made me work," Bryant said of Maggette.

"The main thing on my mind was to win the game," Maggette said.

But he acknowledged he was very aware of Bryant's streaks.

"That was my objective," Maggette said of holding Bryant below 40. "I take defense seriously."

Bryant scored off an assist from Fox with 5:07 remaining for his first points of the fourth quarter, giving him 25 overall and putting the Lakers on top 94-87.

Baskets by Bryant and O'Neal and a dunk by Bryant made it 100-89 with 3:04 to play, and at that stage, with the Staples Center crowd of 18,997 roaring its approval, the Lakers made every effort to help Bryant get to 40.

But the Clippers were too tough on defense, surrounding him at every turn. Bryant scored his final point on a foul shot with 2:32 to play.

Baskets by Andre Miller, Brand and Odom put the Clippers on top 61-56 with 7 1/2 minutes left in the third quarter. But the Lakers outscored the Clippers 22-11 to finish the period for a 78-72 lead.

The Clippers weren't closer than five points after that.

Brand scored six points and Marko Jaric added five during a 12-4 run that gave the Clippers a 40-39 lead.

The Clippers led 51-50 at halftime. Bryant had 12 points at that stage, having shot 4-of-12.

Bryant picked up two fouls in the first 5 1/2 minutes and sat out the last 4:42 of the first quarter, having scored four points.

The Lakers led 18-14 when Bryant left and 26-21 when he returned at the beginning of the second period.

O'Neal had 13 points in the first quarter.

Notes: Team spokesman John Black said it's uncertain when the 57-year-old Jackson will return to the bench. The Lakers entertain Detroit on Thursday night and travel to Seattle on Friday night before taking four days off. "He's day-to-day," Black said. ... Cleamons said he didn't relish the head coaching assignment. "You never want to be out there without your head man," he said. "We'll do it by committee." ... Lakers F Samaki Walker missed his third game because of a sprained right ankle, and Clippers G Keyon Dooling missed his third due to a strained left arch. ... The Lakers have won 22 of their last 24 games against the Clippers.

 

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